14 

Py ^ Series Number 2 



BULLETIN 



United States Live Stock 
Sanitary Association 



Foot-and-Mouth Disease 







./ ... 




Dr 


. A. 


D: 


Melvin 


)r. 


John R^:^ 


"'MOHLER 



PRESENTED BEFORE THE 18TH ANNUAL MEETING 

AT CHICAGO 



COPYRIGHT BY THE UNITED STATES LIVE STOCK SANITARY ASSOCIATION 

PRICE 25 CENTS 



February 16, 1915 



^IB^O 






©CLA894884 






Foot-and-Mouth Disease 

By A. D. Melvin and J. R. Mohler, Washington, D. C. 

Like a bomb from an aeroplane the 1914 outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease 
was precipitated upon the live stock industry of the United States with almost 
an explosion-like effect. How it was 'ntroduced, or whence, it came remains as 
deep a mystery today as at the beginning of the outbreak, although many sug- 
gestive clues have been thoroughly investigated and disproved. Theory after 
theory has been exploded, and there remain but two lines of investigation to l)e 
completed before we exhaust all ev'dence at present available relative to the 
introduction of the disease. 

It would be useless to go into the history of these negative investigations, 
but suffice it to say that the Department has traced the possible origin of the 
disease all the way from imported biological serums and antitoxins to irresponsible 
stories; which indicated that infection had been accidentally brought to this 
country by Belgium refugees in the vicinity of Niles, or had been intent'.onally 
disseminated by men equipped with hypodermic syringes, hoping to interfere 
with the exportation of meat to the warring countries in Europe. 

It seems probable that the first appearance of the disease in th's outbreak 
was among the hogs of a farmer living two miles west of Niles, Michigan, about 
the middle of August, 1914. These hogs had never been vaccinated for hog- 
cholera, nor fed on milk from any creamery, as the owner separated the milk 
from his own cows on the premises. 

Three possbilities as to the method of their infection have been developed. 
The first is in connection with the return of the farmer's wife from a visit to 
New Orleans where her granddaughter had been recently vaccinated against 
smallpox. This possibility is rather remote, but .s nevertheless under investiga- 
tion at present. 

The second is in connection with the purchase by the farmer of merchandise 
from a Chicago firm, including two pars of lisle gloves imported from Germany. 
The paper used in packing and wrapping these goods was thrown into the hog 
lot about ten days before the hogs began to show the disease which subsequently 
pfoved to be foot-and-mouth disease. 

The third possibility fs in connection with the stealing of chickens from 
the farm a short time before the appearance of the affection among the hogs. 
The farmer suspected that the chickens were stolen by foreigners employed in a 
neighboring tannery, though he has no evidence upon which to base this suspicion. 
He thought that possibly the disease may have been brought to his premises by one 
of these suspected men, who might have become contaminated with the virus 
from some imported arfcle used in the tannery. Diligent inquiry has been made 
at this tannery, and it is evident that imported hides can not be even remotely 
incriminated, as the last importation was made more than eighteen months before 
the outbreak. 

The plausib'lity of the above suggestion, however, lies in the fact that certain 
tanning materials are imported in large quantities monthly from Argentine and 
Japan, where foot-and-mouth disease constantly prevails. These products are 
brought into the tannery covered with matting or small burlap bags, which 
art-cles are frequently taken home by the tannery employees for household 
purposes. Our investigations along this line are still in progress, but thus far 
without definite results. 

Within two weeks after the first hogs became sick, the disease spread to the 
cattle on the premises, and s'multaneously the cattle belonging to a neighbor 
developed peculiar symptoms. Each of the farmers called in a different local 
practitioner, one of whom several days later notified the State authorities of 



the conditions present, and requested assistance. The first information that 
reached Washington was a telegram from an assistant inspector at Detroit on 
September 3, stating he intended to visit Niles, Michigan, to investigate a possible 
outbreak of aphthovis fever at the request of the State Veterinarian. The follow- 
ing day a telegram was received stating that no foot-and-mouth disease in Niles, 
Michigan. Characteristic lesions of necrotic stomatitis present. On September 4 
a lettei' confirming the telegram was sent to Washington, which contained a very 
good description of the retrogressive character of the pathological lesions in the 
two herds of cattle, but this description could be applied to a number of condi- 
tions in no way related to foot-and-mouth disease. It was stated that the ulcers 
had been replaced by new tissue, and the external ulcers about the lips and feet 
exhibited the scab formation characterisfc of lip-and-leg ulceration with new 
epithelium replacing the granulating surfaces. Not a suspicion was incorporated 
in either telegram or letter. Had more attention been given *ftj*fhef history of the 
disease, and less consideration given to pathological phraseology, or had the 
statements been made of existing conditions to the effect that 50 of the 50 cows 
in one herd, and 20 of the 21 cattle in the other herd were affected with these 
peculiar lesions, some suggestion of the character of the infection would have 
been implied. 

Nothing further was heard from the disease in Michigan until the afternoon 
of October 10, when a letter arrived from the inspector in charge of the Detroit 
force, to the effect that the disease had spread during the interval from the 
original two herds to six additional herds in the neighborhood. While this letter 
contained reasons why the lesions resembled foot-and-mouth disease, and other 
reasons why they did not, nevertheless the history of the various herds was so 
completely described that no affection other than foot-and-mouth disease could 
suggest itself. Therefore, Dr. Eichorn was sent on the next train to investingate 
and report. The three specimens from the lesions of the affected animals, for- 
warded in glycerine, were turned over to Dr. Mohler, who immediately proceeded 
to the experiment station at Bethesda, Maryland, and that evening inoculated 
three calves, each receiving an intravenous injection, as well as inoculation of 
the dental pad. On October 12, Dr. Eichhorn wired: "Clinical diagnosis positive. 
Advisable Mohler leave tonight via Buffalo directly to Niles." The following- 
reply was sent by Dr. Melvin: "Calves inoculated with Schaffter specimens being 
closely observed by Mohler. If don't develop symptoms next forty-eight hours 
Mohler will leave for Niles. You should inoculate calf to confirm diagnosis." 
On the same date, October 12, the state veterinarian of Michigan was sent the 
following telegram: "Advisable that farms where animals now show symptoms 
of foot-and-mouth disease be placed in temporary quarantine until time for 
experiments on other animals." As inoculated calves showed no lesions within 
the forty-eight hours mentioned. Dr. Mohler was directed to proceed to Niles to 
confirm the diagnosis, and took with him Dr. Houck who was to be left in 
charge of the eradication work, as well as Drs. Gallagher and Smith of Wash- 
ington. They arrived at Niles at 6:30 p. m. on October 15, and immediately were 
piloted by Dr. Eichhorn in an automobile to see some of the infected animals. 
By means of a pocket flashlight, the lesions of the natural cases, as well as the 
calf which Dr. Eichhorn had inoculated in the meantime were examined, and 
the following night-telegram was immediately sent by Mohler to Washington: 
"Lesions of inoculated calf slight but typical. Examined tonight number infected 
cattle. Indisputably European disease. Reports just received indicate 39 Michigan 
farms infected. Seven in Indiana. Need fifteen additional men." Thus the 
campaign of eradication was launched. 

That the glycerinated specimens were reduced in virulence was evident by 
the results of inoculation at Washington, for while the Eichhorn calf with only a 
scarified dental pad developed lesions of the disease in three days, the infection 
in the first Washington calf had a period of incubation of seven days, the second 
case nine days, while the third calf never developed any symptoms whatsoever. 
In this connection, it should be remembered that the intravenous inoculation of 
foot-and-mouth disease virus is supposed to be the most rapid and certain method 
of inoculation with a period of incubation of from six hours to five days. The 
virus of the disease at the beginning was evidently low in virulence, and the 
dissemination of the infection was consequently very slow as indicated by tha 
small number of herds to which the disease had spread from August to October. 



During the forty-eight hours following the confirmation of the diagnosis, 
much scouting was done to ascertain approximately the boundaries of the 
infection, and as a result the Secretary of Agriculture issued an order on Octo- 
ber 19 quaranf.ning Berrien and Cass counties, Michigan, and Laporte and St. 
Joseph counties, Indiana. In the meantime, the co-operation with the State 
authorities was effected, and measures instituted for tracing, checking ani 
stamping out the disease. While the quaranf-ned territory was believed at first 
to circumscribe the centers of infection in that section, the disquieting informa- 
tion was disclosed that a mixed shipment containing 28 hogs, 3 cows and 54 sheep 
had been sent on October 6 from, the vicinity of Niles to Chicago. Almost 
simultaneously it was d'scovered that the milk from an infected herd had been 
taken to a creamery daily for the previous two weeks, and the return of the 
infected skimmed milk to the patrons of this creamery resulted in the rapid 
spread and almost spontaneous appearance of the disease on thirty-six farms, 
which number increased to over one hundred before the creamery could be closed. 
The hogs in the Chicago shipment were among the first to receive this con- 
taminated skimmed milk, and their shipment to Chicago before the development 
of the disease probably infected the cows and sheep in the car as well as the 
Union Stock Yards of Chicago. From this point infection was carried by various 
shipments of live stock, especially the classes of cattle known as stockers and 
feeders from the Chicago stock yards to various parts of the country north, east; 
south and west. 

About this time the products of a certain hog cholera serum company in 
Chicago becaine infected with the virus of foot-and-mouth disease. A careful 
investigation developed the fact that no serum shipped out from the plant of 
this company was contaminated with foot-and-mouth disease. One lot of virus, 
however, was so contaminated. This lot of virus was comparatively small, it 
being composed of 3400 c. c. of blood obtained from four pigs. These pigs were 
not purchased sick in the stock yards, but were well at the time they entered 
the establishment on October 16. They were then inoculated w'th hog cholera 
virus with the intention of using their blood in connection with administering 
the serum-simultaneous treatment. On October 26 these hogs were killed ..o 
furnish hog cholera virus. 

The lesions found in these four pigs were only those of acute hog cholera, 
but evidently they were also in the incubative stage of foot-and-mouth disease. 
It is a well-known fact that the virus of foot-and-mouth disease is present in the 
blood only in diluted quantities and then only at the beginning of the fever, 
before the vesicular eruptions appear. The blood will carry the virus of foot- 
and-mouth disease without possibility of detection except by animal inoculations, 
when the hogs are killed at this stage. The blood from these pigs was mixed 
and most of it was shipped out to customers of the concern in Ohio, Indiana, 
Illinois and Iowa. On November 3, the inspector in charge of the plant had his 
suspicions aroused by sickness appearing in certain hyperimniunized hogs. This 
was late in the day and he visited the plant at daylight on November 4. He 
immediately quarantined the plant for foot-and-mouth disease, because the hogs 
noticed sick the evening before were worse and showed lesions of foot-and-mouth 
disease. All of the employees and the entire estatal'shmnt were disinfected, and 
the plant still remains under quarantine. The infection of the plant was due 
either to the promiscuous passing of the owners and employees of the company 
to and from the infected Chicago stock yards, or to the purchase of hogs exposed 
in those yards. 

The disease has so far been found in the following twenty states, namely: 
Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, 
Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York, 
Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin; in 
addition two herds were found infected in the District of Columbia. The Secre- 
tary of Agriculture has quarantified all or portions of each of these states, and 
local quarantines have been imposed by the State authorities. 

As an illustration of the manner in which the disease was disseminated. It 
may be interesting to refer to the feeders which went from Chicago to Montana, 
a very unusual occurrence, and were held tip at Glendive, Montana, on account 
of showing symptoms of foot-and-mouth disease. These cattle had passed 
through several public stock j^ards enroute, and before it was known that they 



had become infected, a shipment of dairy cattle from clean territory in Wisconsin 
was unloaded for feed, rest and water in the contaminated yards. When the 
dairy cattle reached Spokane, Washington, the disease manifested itself, and the 
cows as well as the pens where they were yarded were cremated without giving 
rise to any secondarj- centers of infection. 

Since the reinfection of the Chicago yards during the middle of January, 
another consignment of twenty-six dairy cows from clean farms and free territory 
in Wisconsin has likewise carried infection to a distant point, but this time the 
state infected was Kansas. These cows were held outside the Chicago stock 
yards for thirty-four hours owing to the failure of the owner to request a health 
certificate from Dr. Eliason. While the mails were carrying the correspondence 
to and fro, the owner of the cattle visited the Union Stock Yards, and evidently 
carried the virus back to his Holstein cows. When they arrived at their destina- 
tion the herd was divided and placed on two farms. About eight days later 
symptoms of foot-and-mouth disease developed, causing four counties in Kansas 
to be placed under quarantine as recently as February 1. 

Instances of this nature showing the intensely infectious character of the 
disease could be recorded indefinitely, but this feature will probably be dwelt 
upon by some of the other speakers this afternoon. 

The first three outbreaks, in 1870 in western iMassachusetts and eas-tern New 
York, about 1880 in several lots of imported animals, and in 1884 in the vicinity 
of the quarantine station at Portland, Ma'ne, were comparatively insignificant; 
those in 1902 and 1908 were more grave; while tne present infection is by fai- 
the most serious and extensive of all. 

The type of the disease in 1870 appears to have been quite mild, which, 
together with the restricted movement of both live stock and persons which 
obtained at that time, accounts for its failure to become more disseminated. 

The other outbreaks in the 80's were likewise mild, and restricted to only a 
few herds, so that the dissemination of the virus was quite easily controlled. 

In the 1902 outbreak, cases were found on 205 premises in twelve counties 
of four states, while in the 1908 outbreak the infection was located on 157 
premises, distributed over a much larger territory comprising twenty-thres 
counties in four states. However, a larger number of animals were slaughtered 
during the former outbreak, namely, 4,461 aga'nst 3,636 in 1908. This latter out- 
break was also a much greater menace to the live stock interests of the country, 
as it reached as far west as iMichigan, and came closer to the great stock-raising 
region. The present outbreak has reached this region, and native range cattle 
have contracted the disease in Montana, but fortunately only three known 
infected herds now exist Avest of the Mississippi river. 

The vastness of the prevailing outbreak as compared to other visitations 
may be realized from the following table, which shows that already 2,245 premises 
have become infected in 223 counties of twenty states and the District of 
Columbia. These figures mean little, except by comparison, and for this reason 
it is thought desirable to show the proportion of infected farms and infected live 
stock to the total number of farms and live stock in one of the most extensively 
infected states. For purposes of illustration, it may be stated that in Illinois 
19,630 cattle out of approximately 2,233,000 cattle have become infected, 24,165 
hogs out of probably 4,350,000 hogs, and but 535 sheep out of a total of 935,000 
sheep. Of the 150,000 farms in that state, only 568 have been involved. Thus far 
the number of cattle destroyed in all the states is 32,914, which is less than 
.08 of 1 per cent of the total number in the United States. In other words, the 
number of cattle destroyed does not exceed the number killed in two or three 
days in some of the larger packing-house centers. 



STATEMENT SHOWING PROGRESS OF WORK OF ERADICATION CF FOOT-AND-MOUTH 
DISEASE, FEBRUAr.Y 9, 1015. 



°-c§ "P S '^ " c Z "^ K Z £. 

^'^*'- i. Ss' h it »I l-S" &^ J •^'^ II Remarks. 

^■£ ^S ^o ^ii .„g ,.o ^,t '^~ ^5 ^■•3 

og °^ o.^ o- °-2 o.^, o^ „5 c-5 o 

Connecticut S 2 24 53.S 10.5 643 Completed. 

Delaware 3 1 VI V>2 22 49 235 Do. 

Dist. of Columbia 2 23 5 28 D«. 

Illinois 102 51 5GS 19,030 535 24,165 12 44,342 25 60 See footnote. 

Indiana 9i 10 104 2,354 630 3.855 6,.S04 3 

Iowa 21 G 39 1,313 32 2,C.57 r,402 5 6 

Kansa.s ? 3 48 4S .; 

Kentucky r:> o 46 819 ."OS 1,127 

Maryland I'l n ?o 744 197 531 1. IJJ D Nearly completed. 

Massachusetts ]-' 5S 1,235 fil 3,471 4 4,7t1 3 2 new herds. 

Michig-an '"_ ii; iio 2,942 S'9 4,019 7, "90 Nearly comiilctcd. 

Montana 31 3 3: l,-:os 237 11 1,"56 Completed. 

Ne'.v Hampshire.. 10 13 78 26 mi Disinfection completed. 

New Jersey :1 G 25 791 6 193 990 1 Nearly completed 

New York . . . r: 12 ST 3.5"0 60 267 2 3,9 "4 1 Do. 

Ohio 88 23 1S3 3,293 2.648 4,'6i, 1 10..-04 .0 Do. 

Pennsylvania C7 2S "OT 11,575 273 6, 037 3 1S,JSS 2 '4 See footnote. 

Phcde Island 5 3 41 S\S 1 ]."5 9''4 2 Nearly comiilcted. 

Virginia '00 "! 1 19 15 34 Comrletcd. 

Wsshin.frton :? 1 1 102 102 Do. 

Y'-vr-nrsin 7^ n ""> i.i".^ i.'fi( 1.""3 1 ) m n Disinfection comp'.eted. 

Totals '..'.'.'.'."...v.. 223 2.245 52,914 7,301 51,734 2! 111,868 37 8.! 

*Numter of <_ounties in each State Kiven in oj'.'.ir ti th;)\v aD.roxir.icte area of State 
involved. 

Illimis? — >11 : ren^ises T<.'hcro herds have been slpiierhtered hav^ either befn disinffcted or 
rr" 1 n'n-T d'f'rrortod. >rimals rf herds awaifr.pr .^laiie-hter not included in total number of 

animals, as reports on herds awsiting slaughter sre rot comrlrte. 

PeiTFy'vrria— Work of disinfection .started cs soon rs slaig'.itered animals arc byried. 
Few new herds. 



An analog-y may bo shown between these last three outbreaks. They all 
started about August or September, w'th intervals of six years. They were not 
uncovered in the 1902 or 190S outbreak until November. In this present visitation 
the disease was diagnosed about the middle of October, a month earlier than in 
the two previous outbreaks. The success which followed the eradicafon of the 
disease in these two latter outbreaks through slaughter of infected herds, enforce- 
ment of rigid quarantine measures, and the prompt and thorough cleaning and 
disinfection of the infected prem'ses in co-operation with the state authorities, 
has been generally recognized as the* most practical and efficient means of 
eradication that could be adopted in this country, and such measures have been 
employed successfully in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Holland, England and 
other European countries, as well as Austral'a. Even in Germany this course was 
followed for a time in a recent outbreak, but the spread of the disease was so 
rapid — possibly because of its former widespread appearance in that country — 
that it soon got beyond the control of the authorities and the slaughter of the 
infected herds had to be abandoned. The experience ga'ned in those countries 
where foot-and-mouth disease has become so prevalent and permanently im- 
planted has shown that the existence of such an intensely contagious malady in 
a country is a constant menace to the live stock industry, and its control solely 
by quarantine measures and disinfection, has proved impossible in those countries 
where it has been undertaken. 

In considering the losses from this disease, the mortality is not the only factor 
to be mentioned. The death rate in the benign form of the malady may be only 
3 per cent, while in the mal'gnant form of the disease it may reach from 30 to 
40 per cent and even more of the affected animals. On the other hand, the 
mortality among calves in the benign form of the infection is considerable. 

Although as a rule infected animals respond quickly to medic'nal treatment, 
the Department does not advise such treatment of animals suffering with foot- 
and-mouth disease. If diseased animals w^ere held for treatment, they would be 



a source of infection for some weeks or months, and if this plan were generally 
followed we should probably never be able to get rid of the disease. The malady 
is of such a highly contagious character, and the infection is so easily spread, 
thati during the period of treatment one an'.mal might communicate it to hundreds 
of others. Experience in European countries has shown the futility of attempting 
to eradicate the disease by curing individual an'mals. The affected animals that 
have passed through the disease become a source of further infection as virus 
carriers for weeks and months, even after they have apparently recovered, xnd 
are susceptible to reinfection as one attack does not confer permanent Immunity. 
It is a known fact that many of the infectious diseases of man such as typhoid 
fever, cholera, plague and diphtheria are spread by so-called bacillus or virus 
carriers. Such carriers may also occur in different diseases of animals, although 
definite data on virus carriers in animals have been established only in foot-and- 
mouth disease, Malta fever, and equine influenza. The possibilty of such carriers 
existing in other diseases of animals such as hog-cholera has been intimated by 
Hutyra and other prominent authorities. The occurrence of virus carriers after 
the recovery of foot-and-mouth disease was first recognized by Loeffler in 19G4, 
and is of special importance in countries where eradication is conducted with 
only quarantine and veterinary police measures. 

The absolute solution of this problem causes many difficulties, because in 
foot-and-mouth disease, unlike in typhoid fever or diphtheria, the infective 
agent can not be determined bacteriologically, since in foot-and-mouth disease 
we have to deal with an ultra-visible virus. 

In 1905, Nevermann pointed out in an official report that an animal recovered 
from foot-and-mouth disease introduced the infection to another herd after a 
lapse of eight months. Later, the Ministry of Wurtemburg reported two cases 
in 1907 in which recovered animals acting as virus carriers transmitted the 
disease. Further, Loeffler mentioned similar cases, and in his report suggested 
that all animals which are used for experimental work on foot-and-mouth disease 
should be slaughtered after the conclusion of the experiment. Again, at the 
Ninth International Veterinary Congress, Loeffler and Nevermann reported further 
observations on virus carriers of foot-and-mouth disease. The conclusions of 
Prof. Loeffler are as follows: 

Regular supervision of such farms is indispensably required. 
One of the most important results of the researches concerning foot- 
and-mouth disease is that the fact has been doubtlessly ascertained that, 
just as in numerous human infectious diseases, some of the recovered 
animals will remain carriers and continue the spreading of the virus. 
It seems that the number of such animals is limited. 
How long such animals can spread the virus has not yet been ascer- 
tained. According to the experience gathered up to the present moment 
even seven months after the end of the epizooti new infections have 
been caused by them. 

As yet no method is known to discriminate the virus spreaders. 
Infected animals are to be placed under observation during at least 
seven months. They must not be offered for sale, and should be kept 
separated from healthy animals. 

Nevermann, in his report on foot-and-mouth disease prepared for the Tenth 
International Veterinary Congress held in London in 191i, attached great impor- 
tance to the virus carriers in connection with the spread of this infection. He 
claimed that in the control of foot-and-mouth disease,- it is absolutely necessary 
to give the so-called virus carriers due consideration, as otherwise the results of 
the measures inaugurated for the eradication of the disease may prove fruitless. 
He also cited numerous instances In which virus carriers were indisputably the 
propagators of the disease. Such observations have been made, especially during 
the last outbreaks in Germany, which afforded the authorities a splendid oppor- 
tunity for collecting data on this phase of the disease. All the governmental 
veterinarians received instructions to make close observations relative to each 
outbreak with a view to tracing its origin. Special reports were required in all 
instances where the disease could be traced to virus carriers. As a result of 
these steps, Nevermann was in a position to publish in the last annual report of 
the veterinary officers of Prussia over one hundred outbreaks reported from 
different parts of the country in which virus carriers were apparently responsible 
for the dissemination of the disease. Naturally it was impossible to establish. 



with positive certainty that in each instance the virus carriers spread the disease, 
or that other factors might not have been responsible for the outbreaks; never- 
theless, in considering- the large number of outl)reaks reported to be due to such 
a source of infection, we must accept that the careful observations of the district 
veterinarians include only such cases as were obviously traceable to virus 
carriers. The outbreaks in which the infection occurs after the lapse of a pro- 
longed period following the recovery of infected animals may be divided into 
two groups: The first group would embrace those cases in which susceptible 
animals are placed into previously infected stables and subsequently become 
infected — in such cases it might be possible that the virus was still present .n 
some remote places not reached by the disinfectant, the newly introduced animals 
contracting the disease from such a source. The second group would include the 
cases in which recovered animals after the disappearance of the disease are 
introduced into healthy herds, thus infecting them. In these cases the disease 
usually appears among the animals of the healthy herd only after several week:^, 
and at times even after months. At the same time, the animals which brought 
the infection "into the herd do not become infected. Investigations which have 
been conducted in order to determine what part of the recovered animal harbors 
the infection have not been uniform in their results. Some investigators have 
found that the saliva of a recovered animal was responsible for the spread of 
disease. In other cases, the virus is supposed to have been spread from the 
crevices in the hoof. The recent studies of Zschokke are particularly interesting 
on this phase of the subject. He imdertook the work of establishing to what 
extent the feet of recovered animals may be responsible for the dissemination of 
disease, and according to his findings, the vesicles which occur in the skin of the 
interdigital spaces and the plantar cushion may also extend under the horny 
capsule forming their furrow-like spaces along the sensitive laminae of the wall 
and sole, and he also found hidden vesicles in the hoof which did not open to the 
outside. It therefore appears possible that virulent lymph which is present in 
these locations penetrates between the horny structure where it becomes enclosed 
until it is brought to the surface by the natural wearing of the hoof, and is then 
responsible for the transmission of the disease. The findings of Zschokke would 
explain the possibility of the occurrence of the disease in localities in which 
animals harboring the virus in such fashion are introduced into healthy herds, 
and it is considered possible that the greatest proportion of the virus carriers 
harbor the infection in this manner. In countries where the eradication of foot- 
and-mouth disease is conducted by the enforcement of quarantine measures, 
these so-called virus carriers must therefore be a constant menace to the elimina- 
tion of the disease, and if for no other reason than this, it appears that whenev.^r 
the circumstances permit, eradication of the disease should be carried out by 
slaughtering the infected herd. The fact that recovered animals might transmit 
the disease for six or seven months to susceptible animals would cause a constant 
uncertainty, and require a vigilance impossible of enforcement. 

In order to demonstrate the extent of the spread of this disease in Germany, 
and to demonstrate the advisability of controlling the disease by the slaughter 
of the infected herds in connection with sanitary and quarantine measures, 
authentic statistical data are given below. 

The outbreak which appeared in Germany in 1888 reached its height in 1892, 
when 1,304,299 cattle, 2,19.3,187 sheep, and 4,238,262 hogs were affected with the 
disease. It gradually diminished after this time, but again reached very great 
proportions in 1899, when 1,885,774 cattle, 1,505,830 sheep, and 814,862 hogs were 
affected. After that time the disease gradually diminished, although it continued 
to exist to a greater or less extent. In 1910 it appeared to gain in virulence, and 
in 1911 the affection was more widely spread than ever before in the history of 
that country. In that year 3,366,369 cattle, 1,602,627 sheep, 53,674 goats, and 
2,555,371 hogs were affected with the disease. Similar statistics could be cited 
from other European countries in which the policy adopted consisted in endeavors 
to control the disease by quarantine measures. 

The prevention of such widespread epizootics among domestic animals must 
of necessity have a great influence upon the animal industry of the country. 
The losses which may be attributed to the disease, outside of the mortality, .ire 
heavy. These include the rapid loss in the condition of the animals, especially in 
fattened stock; the diminution in the milk yield of dairy cows, and the subsequent 



appearance of garget in a considerable proportion of the affected animals, with 
a total destruction of milk secretion in one or more quarters of the udder; 
likewise, abortions frequently occur in pregnant animals, as well as other corrtpli- 
cations which are associated with outbreaks of this disease. Furthermore, feet 
complications are particularly frequent in fat stock and hogs, which not infrs- 
quently result in the sloughing of the hoofs. 

Various authorities have aimed to establish the depreciation in value of an 
animal after an attack of foot-and-mouth disease. An English practitioner of 
wide experience states that it is none too high to place the loss on each animal 
that becomes affected and that ultimately recovers at $20 when milch cows 3r 
feeding cattle that are nearly finished are under consideration. Other eminent 
authorities state that the deterioration will amount to from 20 to 30 per cent of 
the value of animals. In Denmark it is figured that the depreciation in valae 
would amount to $8 per head, in Germany $7, and in Holland $10. Allowing 
the smallest figures to stand as the average, and considering that there are in 
the United States about 58,000,000 cattle, of which only 50 per cent might become 
infected, the losses sustained for cattle alone would amount to over $200,000,000, 
to make no allowance for injurj' done to swine, sheep, goats and other susceptibM 
animals. iiii-mt 

The paralyzing effect upon the traffic in live stock which results from the 
outbreak, and necessary quarantine which must be established to control the 
disease, and which must extend over a, long period, must also be considerable from 
an economical standpoint during the prevalence of the contagion. For instance, 
the disease causes the closure of markets and the prevention of fairs, shows an<l 
public sales, interferes with the proper supply of milk and meat, and prevents 
the exportation of live stock. States not infected refuse admission of animals 
from the quarantined states, and owners of herds free from disease naturally 
demand protection from exposed or infected stock. In view of these circum- 
stances it is not surprising that those who have seriously taken part in the 
struggle against this disease sooner or later possess the conviction that sucoe.ss 
is to be expected only from energy and resoluteness. 

In the previous outbreaks of 1902 and 1908, the expenditure of the Unital 
States Government in the eradication of the disease amounted to about $300,000 
in each instance. Between the three outbreaks, including the present one, thero 
were six-year intervals, and by distributing this expenditure over the intervening 
period the total amount per year would be only $50,000, which is very small when 
compared with the losses which would result if the disease had been allowed to 
spread over a considerable area of the country. 

Experience with the disease in various countries indicates that once the 
infection has been allowed to spread over large areas, the contagion practically 
had to wear itself out before it subsides. But even then the virus will remain 
dormant only during the period of acquired immunity of the animals. A reduced 
resistance in the animals will again afford an opportunity for the virus to assert 
its infective action, and outbreaks will start anew with increased force. These 
facts probably account for the periodical curves which are noted in the presence 
of the disease throughout continental Europe, and if it were possible for the 
respective governments to adopt measures by which they could eradicate the 
disease they would gladly make the financial sacrifices which it would be neces- 
sary to incur through the slaughter of Infected and " exposed animals in newly 
appearing outbreaks. 

In consideration of the above facts, we can readily see the advantages <.-f. 
eradicating the disease by the slaughter and burial of all exposed and affected 
animals, enforcement of rigid Federal and State quarantine measures, and thor- 
ough and prompt cleaning and disinfection of the infected premises, and tha 
experience gained in the former outbreaks substantiates the belief that this is 
the only effective procedure in the controlling of the disease in this country. 

In Europe until a comparatively recent date the disease has been combatted 
by isolation and quarantine, and the cleaning and disinfection of infected 
premises, but these measures have not been effective, as is shown by the con- 
tinuous existence and the wide dissemination of the infection. The results of 
combatting the disease without the slaughter of infected and exposed animals is 
shown by the statements of Professor Dammann of Hanover, who said that 
without absolute quarantine of the infected farms preventing even the movement 
of persons, the control of foot-and-mouth disease is impossible; but this stringent 



measure, he states, cannot be executed in eradicating- the disease, and notwltii- 
standing- the quarantine of infected stables, reinforced in many instances by the 
quarantine of communities, and often of a larg-e zone around these communities, 
and further, the very extended prohibition of animal traffic and the supervision 
exercised over abattoirs, dealers' stables, and railroad ears, the disease continued 
to prevail. 

Professor Loeffler of Germany says that foot-and-mouth disease is spread 
more and more every year and every year it costs the German Empire enormous 
sums. Necessary measures have been taken with the greatest care, suspected 
premises have been closely quarantined, and these measures have been extended 
to whole communities, and even to entire districts, but notwithstanding that the 
disinfection had been carefully carried out, the disease kept spreading. 

In regard to the slaughter of infected and exposed animals as one of the 
measures in the eradication of the disease. Professor Hess of Switzerland has 
concluded that in order to cope with the disease "the diseased animals should be 
destroyed completely, including hides and hair, and the exposed animals slaugh- 
tered under police svipervision." 

In Englanu slaughter has been resorted to quite frequently in recent years 
to stamp out the disease when first introduced. Dr. Cope, speaking of the out- 
break in that country while he was the chief veterinary official, said: "It was 
eventually stamped out in the County of Kent by the purchase, slaughter and 
burial of several of the affected flocks." 

Dr. Fleming of England, speaking of the outbreak in Australia, said, "There 
was really only one outbreak in Victoria among the cattle on two farms into 
which it had been introduced ))y an imported bull. Here the cattle were destroyed 
and with them the disease." 

Dr. Cope refers to a communication which he received from Dr. Bang of 
Copenhagen, in which Dr. Bang says: "Since 1876 we have had every year, 
once or twice, cases of foot-and-mouth disease; in all cases we killed the cattls, 
sheep and swine on the farms even if only one calf was affected." Dr. Cope 
stated at the International Veterinary Congress at Baden-Baden in 1899: "We 
have now been free from the disease since 1894, and I can assert that at the 
present time foot-and-mouth disease is more dreaded by farmers and stock 
owners of Great Britain than cattle plague or pleuro-pneumonla, and they are 
willing to put up with whatever restrictions of however drastic a character 
considered necessary by the central department to stamp it out." 

Remmelts, in referring to the struggle against foot-and-mouth disease in the 
Netherlands, mentions in his report to the International Veterinary Congress at 
London in 1914 that "preference must by far be given to the immediate removal 
of virus by slaughtering diseased and suspected animals than to any other 
measure." By adopting such methods the extermination of existing-, as well as 
the suppression of new virus carriers is accomplished. In his article, special 
stress is laid upon the necessity of properly pasteurizing all by-products of the 
creameries including whey, and of stopping the movement of cattle in the 
infected district. 

Mettam, at the same Congress, gave his experience with the disease in Ireland 
and stated that the animals, both Infected and exposed, are slaughtered and their 
carcasses burned or destroyed without any attempt to salvage any portion of the 
animal, owing to the danger of spreading the virus far and wide. 

Professor Leclainche, a representative of the French Government at this 
Congress, likewise advocated the slaughter of diseased and exposed animals in 
countries where the infection has not become firmly implanted, where natural 
boundaries are present, or when the diseaise occurs in the benign form. 

The above quotations are sufficient to show that the slaughter of diseased 
animals has been frequently adopted as a means of combatting the disease in 
Europe, and it has been more successful than any other measure. In fact, the 
International Veterinary Congress held at Baden-Baden in 1899, stated in one 
of its resolutions passed with reference to this disease,' that it was necessary to 
authorize slaughter and to establish uniform sanitary regulations in order to 
airest and eradicate this burdensome plague. 



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